Top 10 Movies That Define Generation X
Top 10 Gen X Movies
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We think you should watch these movies. Or don't...we don't care. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gen X Movies. For this list, we're looking at films that were important for the generation born between 1961 and 1981 - otherwise known as Generation X. Although this generation is often stereotyped as apathetic, these films speak to what many were thinking and feeling at the time. In other words, they’re more than just popular, they helped capture the spirit of a generation. Please note that we won't be including Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" or Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," however, as their appeal is something that's transcended generations.
#10: "Kids" (1995)
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Filmmakers Larry Clark and Harmony Korine are no strangers to controversy, and it was this 1995 film that first brought their unique and challenging ideas and visuals to the big screen. "Kids" tells a very simple story about inner city kids and their experiences with sex, drugs and boredom. This ties into the overarching apathy that many Gen X-ers were feeling around this time, while also serving as a dramatic shift from the feel-good kids films of the 1980s. Korine's screenplay is harsh and unforgiving, while Clark directs the film with a lurid eye that raised critical eyebrows then, and continues to do so today.
#9: "Boyz n the Hood" (1991)
Realistic depictions of inner city life weren't exactly commonplace on the big screen in 1991. And perhaps that's why Generation X responded so intensely to writer/director John Singleton's feature directorial debut, "Boyz n the Hood." It's a coming-of-age tale, but told from a fresh and honest perspective while covering thematic ground that was long overdue. "Boyz n the Hood" doesn't sugarcoat or apologize for the life choices of its characters, and it makes us care about the story being told, even if there's a whole lot of grey area in between "right" and "wrong." Moreover, Singleton's film introduced actors like Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Ice Cube to audiences that were ready to embrace them as future stars they would become.
#8: "Office Space" (1999)
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Mike Judge had already endeared himself big time to Gen X-ers with his hit animated series, "Beavis and Butt-Head" before jumping to the big screen, so it makes sense that his first live action feature film also resonated with them. "Office Space" came out at the right place and the right time, capturing the desire of Generation X to break away from the dreary 9-to-5 doldrums. Sure, the film achieves this end with a whole bunch of great satire and quotable humor, but "Office Space" - like many Mike Judge projects - is a lot smarter than it might seem at first glance. Many comedies seem dated right after they hit theaters, but "Office Space" continues to strike nerves and funny bones years later.
#7: "Singles" (1992)
"Singles" was another hit for former Rolling Stone writer and "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" screenwriter Cameron Crowe, and an example of just how adept the director was at connecting with young people across generations. Generation X was the intended target this time, and with grunge rock at an all time high, "Singles" hit a bulls' eye by setting its romantic comedy story in Seattle. There are few movies more quintessentially "nineties" than this one, right down to members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam appearing as supporting characters. Ok, so the haircuts and fashion choices in "Singles" probably haven't aged all that well, but for viewers of a certain age, Cameron Crowe's story just hits all the right wistful buttons.
#6: "Empire Records" (1995)
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So is working in a record store really like living out "Empire Records?" Well, no....no it's not, but that didn't stop an entire generation of people from daydreaming about the kinds of adventures and lives (drama and all) that these very cool and very pretty people enjoyed on a daily basis. "Empire Records" stood out from the often cynical portrayal of Gen X youth in film by presenting a group of friends who seemed to genuinely enjoy each others' company. The fact that the film boasted a killer soundtrack certainly didn't hurt matters any. For viewers today, "Empire Records" is just pure nostalgia - a look back at a time when we could all pretend that slinging CDs and tapes could actually pay the bills.
#5: "Before Sunrise" (1995)
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"Before Sunrise" is a unique film on this list, in that it seems to have more in common with the slow burn cinema of the 1970s. Director and co-writer Richard Linklater capitalized on the success of his 1993 hit "Dazed and Confused" to create this sweet, smart and touching love story; a single-night affair between American and French tourists that asks more questions than it answers. "Before Sunrise" is dialogue heavy and character-driven, the kind of film that Gen X audiences were perhaps more open to as the decade rolled on. Today, the film is considered a cult classic, proving that Linklater's output continues to win over audiences across generations.
#4: "The Breakfast Club" (1985)
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Consider this next entry on our list the sort of Gen X movie that juuust fits into our criteria. Sure, the sweet spot for many Gen X movie-watchers was arguably the nineties, but those born in the seventies probably have a fond memory of watching "The Breakfast Club" as a kid. Writer/director John Hughes managed to capture the zeitgeist of how compartmentalized many young Gen X-ers felt, and how they wished to break out from the expectations of both their parents, and the previous generation. Jock, prep, geek, outcast and weirdo all spend a few hours of detention together, but wind up learning a whole lot more about themselves (and each other) by the time the day is done.
#3: "Clerks" (1994)
"Clerks" - a true cult classic from writer/director Kevin Smith - was one of the little underground flicks that really resonated with audiences in the indie-obsessed nineties. Just as the 1970s "New Hollywood" movement put the power in the hands of writers and directors, so too did the floodgates open for Generation X filmmakers to tell their own stories. "Clerks" was shot in black-and-white for a meager initial budget of 27 grand, but earned a cult following thanks to the wit and charm of the script. Moreover, "Clerks" represents the generation's desire for more relatable storytelling, as opposed to the bloated Hollywood epics of old. It also proved that the average Joe could make his own movie, get it distributed, and actually succeed.
#2: "Fight Club" (1999)
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If "Office Space" was a comedic satire of the white-collar misery machine, then consider David Fincher's "Fight Club" to be its bad-boy alter ego. The film possesses similar themes of Generation X versus the status quo, but inserts sequences of sweaty, macho violence and throbbing electronica to drive its point home. David Fincher and screenwriter Jim Uhls adapt Chuck Palahniuk's novel with a hefty helping of dark comedy, while at the same time adopting a visual style that's dirty and grimy. Add to that inventive jump cuts and intentional fourth wall breaks, and you get a film that really stands out. "Fight Club" is a movie that probably couldn't have been made in any other decade, but that timestamp is also a part of its charm. Before we name our number one pick, here a few honorable mentions! "Slacker" (1990) "Heathers" (1988) "Clueless" (1995) "Wayne's World" (1992) "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989)
#1: "Reality Bites" (1994)
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"Reality Bites" ticks all the right boxes to be a perfect flick for the Generation X crowd. For starters, it employs a cast of classic Gen X favorites, including Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Janeane Garofalo. Second, it's a meta-sort of movie that's about filmmaking, as Ryder's character works on a documentary detailing life and love in the nineties. Finally, themes of gay rights, A.I.D.S. awareness, and listless apathy all fall perfectly in line with what many in Generation X were feeling at the time. "Reality Bites" is a perfect storm of sorts, a pleasantly dated kind of film that's "of its time" in the best possible way.
